Abstract
Anticipating the euthanasia of a beloved companion animal can be a nerve-wracking experience. This is especially true if owners or entire families wish to be present when their pets die.
While there is much written to help pet owners deal with grief after their pets die, there is very little information available to help them make necessary plans and to prepare themselves emotionally before the procedure of euthanasia. There are even fewer studies and published information about the interventions mental health practitioners can use to be of assistance to clients during this preparation and planning phase.
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Editors and Affiliations
Resources
Resources
Cards, Memorials, Counselors and Information
World by the Tail, Inc.
“caring for people who care for pets”
126 West Harvard Street, Suite 5
Fort Collins, CO 80525
1-888-271-8444
info@wbtt.com
www.veterinarywisdomforpetparents.com
Up-to-date referrals, resources, consultation, and products for pet parents and mental health professionals who provide pet loss support.
VeterinaryWisdom® Support Center
Free instant downloads about pet loss
Dana Durrance, M.A., veterinary grief counselor
Condolence cards
ClayPaws® paw print kits and other pet tribute products
Argus Institute
Colorado State University
James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital
300 West Drake, Fort Collins, CO 80525
1-970-297-4143
argus@colostate.edu
www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu/whatnow.htm
What Now booklet for grieving pet owners
Clinical Service providing client grief support
Pet Hospice Program
Marty Touseley, certified hospice bereavement counselor
Supportive information and “A Different Grief: Coping with Pet Loss”, a 24-lesson e-course for pet parents who’ve lost a pet. Supplemental material for supporting grieving children is also available.
Center for Loss and Life Transition
When Your Pet Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering, and Healing by bereavement expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt
Pet Loss/Grief Support & Training
Argus Institute
Colorado State University
James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital
300 West Drake, Fort Collins, CO 80525
1-970-297-4143
argus@colostate.edu
www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu
Veterinary communication/grief support curriculum and trainings
FRANK: Veterinarian-Client Communication Initiative (workshops and trainings with CE credits available)
World by the Tail, Inc.
“caring for people who care for pets”
126 West Harvard Street, Suite 5
Fort Collins, CO 80525
1-888-271-8444
info@wbtt.com
Up-to-date referrals, resources, consultation, and products for pet parents and veterinary professionals who provide pet loss support.
VeterinaryWisdom® Resource Center
Dana Durrance, M.A., veterinary grief specialist and practice consultant
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB)
National organization providing training and “certification” for pet loss support counselors. The Association’s website offers information, counselor referrals, and online forums/support for pet owners.
Center for Loss and Life Transition
Directed by bereavement expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt, the center offers a “Pet Loss Companioning” Certification Program, as well as books and information about pet loss.
Canadian Centre for Pet Loss Bereavement
A national free public service website offering support, information, and training in pet loss counseling.
Institute for Healthcare Communication, Inc.
555 Long Wharf Drive, 13th Floor
New Haven, CT 06511-5901
Ph: 800-800-5907 or 203-772-8280
FAX: 203-772-1066
Email: info@healthcarecomm.org
A nationally accredited, not-for-profit organization that trains physicians and, in recent years veterinarians, throughout North America in effective communication skills. The veterinary communication training initiative is funded by a grant from Bayer Animal Health.
Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC)
111 Dear Lake Road, Suite 100
Deerfield, IL 60015
847-509-0403
A national membership association providing certification and distance learning programs, as well as resources, information, and an annual conference.
Professional Veterinary Organizations that Address Pet Loss Issues
American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA)
ww.avma.org (search pet loss)
Written Guidelines for Pet Loss Support Services and Veterinary Hospice Programs Brochures about Pet and Equine Euthanasia
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
Training materials for veterinary professionals and books/pamphlets for veterinary clients
American Association for Human–Animal Bond Veterinarians (AAH-ABV)
(for membership and contact information)
Provides education, research, and support to enhance veterinarians’ ability to create positive and ethical relationships among people, animals, and their environments.
Association for Veterinary Family Practice (AVFP)
(for membership and contact information)
Offers online and on-site (UC-Davis) coursework in the emerging specialty of Veterinary Family Practice. Topics include pets in families and society and the clinical skills needed to care for both patients and clients.
International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC)
620 W. Webster Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
An interdisciplinary organization dedicated to promoting comfort-oriented nursing and medical for companion animals as they near the end of their lives and as they die.
International Conference on Communication in Veterinary Medicine (ICCVM)
iccvm@bayleygroup.com
(for registration and conference information)
The purpose of this conference is to promote the development of veterinary communication research and education
International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ)
(for membership and contact information)
Promotes the scientific and scholarly study of human–animal interactions. Also publishes the Anthrozoos journal and offers professional meetings and conferences worldwide.
Delta Society: the human–animal health connection
(for membership and contact information)
Improves human health through service and therapy animals
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Lagoni, L. (2011). Family-Present Euthanasia: Protocols for Planning and Preparing Clients for the Death of a Pet. In: Blazina, C., Boyraz, G., Shen-Miller, D. (eds) The Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9761-6_11
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